PRiME works with government officials and ministries currently engaged with IFAD, improving their knowledge of M&E as a tool for greater impact in the rural sectors managed by these government counterparts. Participants are nominated by their respective governments, based on pre-established criteria. In addition, PRiME welcomes other interested officials, consultants, and partners from affiliated international financial institutions and multilateral development banks.

PRiME is comprised of two stages:

M&E Fundamentals Course 1

Materials that were developed for the first edition of Fundamentals of M&E 1.

M&E Fundamentals Course 2

Both courses have a duration of one week (two weeks in total), which are delivered in a period of seven months and in a face-to-face format. At the end of each course, participants must pass an assessment on the topics covered during their training courses.

The courses are offered in English, Spanish, and French. The courses will be subsequently held in selected locations (based on participant demand) two times per year.

Objectives and Outcomes

PRiME seeks to establish a high quality, global and sustainable training program to certify IFAD-affiliated and other rural development professionals. PRiME will be implemented in phased components with different but associated activities, featuring multiple languages. Each component will go through a thorough review and quality assurance process, to ensure the quality of curriculum development, training of trainers, course delivery, certification, e-learning, and knowledge sharing, ultimately contributing to the development of future components of the program.

IFAD and CLEAR anticipate the following outcomes from the inaugural training and certification program:

Improved skill base for M&E and impact assessment in IFAD-financed client countries in the rural sector. IFAD project-level staff and government officials will have completed the training and received the certification, and will manage development projects via an evidence-based approach.

A knowledge management repository will be developed, where all curriculum material and learning from the global course delivery, “train the trainer” component, and certification process will be codified, stored, and available as a public good.

A new M&E and impact assessment certification framework will be developed, quality assured, implemented, and widely recognized by M&E and rural development professionals globally.

Goals

PRiME seeks to establish a high quality, global and sustainable training program to certify IFAD-affiliated and other rural development professionals.

IFAD and CLEAR anticipate the following outcomes from the inaugural training and certification program:

Improved skill base for M&E and impact assessment in IFAD-financed client countries in the rural sector. Project staff and government officials will have completed the training and received the certification, and will manage development projects via an evidence-based approach.

A knowledge management repository will be developed, where all curriculum material and learning from the global course delivery, “train the trainer” component, and certification process will be codified, stored, and available as a public good.

A new M&E and impact assessment certification framework will be developed, quality assured, implemented, and widely recognized by M&E and rural development professionals globally.

Structure

As you will see, the structure involves four components.

Component 1:

Curriculum Customization

The Evaluator’s Institute (TEI) and the Centers for Learning on Evaluation and Results (CLEAR) have developed a curriculum in consultation with IFAD, after conducting a comprehensive needs assessment.

CLEAR will work with TEI and IFAD to customize the curriculum by region and participant level.

Component 2:

Developing the Certification Framework

Why Certification?

• Allows participants to differentiate themselves in a competitive global marketplace.• Standardization of courses and skills.• Increased trust and quality in the capacity building framework.• IFAD is adopting certification programs for financial management and climate change.

1.- Review of best practices in certification, aligning them with the needs of client countries and partners.2.- Development of a certifying framework: training modalities, assessment and testing procedures, outreach.

“enhance the overall performance and results of the IFAD M&E training program; support efforts to scale up or replicate successes of the program; and share lessons with wider audiences to achieve visibility, and for advocacy and influence”.